Sun Microsystems, which is in the middle of a $5.6bn acquisition by software giant Oracle, said in its 10-Q quarterly financial filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it may have broken bribery laws overseas. The 10-Q filing also put some numbers on what Sun will have to pay if the Oracle acquisition does not go …

COMMENTS

'We may have violated bribery laws'

Well, you know - it could happen to anyone. You're checking your voice mail, or you think there's something in your coffee - you take your attention away for a split second, and things can happen. I know, personally, I've probably violated bribery laws a few times, even just on the way to work. You gotta cut them a little slack here.

In for a Penny, in for a Pound.

"If the deal doesn't go through, the filing said, Sun might be liable to pay a termination fee of approximately $260m and, in certain circumstances, might be responsible for covering Oracle's out-of-pocket expenses relating to the merger agreements up to an additional $45m."

Surely Sun would only be liable to such fees and expenses [$305m], which presumably are due to Oracle if the deal doesn't go through, if they are found/proven to have fallen foul of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Until that time, should the merger be blocked, would Oracle be immediately entitled to the said sum from the Prosecution Team Host, payable at the time of any action being instigated or its blockage being made official and subsequently reclaimable from the/a guilty Party, [which may or may not be Sun]

If Third Party Proxies want to stick their Noses into Businesses which either they do not Fully Understand or would maybe wish to Dominate because they Might Think they Understand how Powerful they might Be, then it is only Fair and Reasonable/Equitable that they Pay The Entry Price rather than Getting a Free Ride. If they can Hack IT is their Investment Safe and if they are not Up to the Mark, then they will have learnt a Valuable Lesson.

And it would appear that Larry is into Who Dares Win Wins in a Big Way. Bravo, Sir. Well Played.

And Paris because she appears to be fully committed to Nothing Special, which is a Crying Shame which can only deliver her some Fun Filled Times with Empty Headed Knight Errants and Weak Willed Imposters.

transparency

When you join Sun, you get some compulsory training about things like this. The message is *very* firm: don't do it. If in doubt, consult business ethics. If you hear of any wrongdoing, report it.

Sun is one of eight companies to have employed me[1] in my professional career, but it's the *only* one to have driven home a strong and positive message about business ethics. UK employers have been at best silent, and often downright shady.

Conclusion: I expect this is a case of going public where other companies would have made every effort to keep it (whatever it is) quiet, or even turned a blind eye.

"No! This is not a serious matter. The punishment is a few shekels, a slap on the wrist and a warning not to do it again." ..... By Tris Orendorff Posted Saturday 9th May 2009 19:43 GMT

Tris,

Methinks it is more accompanied with the advice ... try not to get discovered doing it again. They who Master that SMART Novel Art, for it never succeeds at All as a Dark Art/Black Op, Rule any Roost, and therefore also All Roosts.

IBM probably walked away because there are too many skeletons and demons, at risk of being exposed to Sun light, in its bare Virtual IP cupboards, and they don't really/virtually know what to do with them or about IT?

Purely speculative of course, but when True means the Boss Man has Lost the Plot which Leads in All Universal Matters .......... which you should notice is a Bold Statement rather than Timid Question.

But the Spot is Never Ever Vacant, is it, Larry? ....... which you should notice is a Bold Question rather than Timid Statement.

Oracle knew

Apparently Oracle knew about this before making the offer... I'm sure Sun made it public now so that Oracle would not have to make it public later. It's good marketing. Oracle can just say "Old news! Nothing here... Move on."

Finding a Voice ....... 42 Fill in the Voids

"If the US can't get a grip on solid material ie banking, mortgages or a car industry, what can they do with a cyber industry, it's all virtual anyway." .... By Anonymous Coward Posted Sunday 10th May 2009 15:49 GMT

Hmmm. They can surely expect that the cyber industry demonstrate, with solid material help provision from Established Realised Services, what the Virtual can Presently do for the Future and One and All.

Which puts the Onus on Virtual Future Servers to make contact with Status Quo Present IMPerfect Providers ...... in Plain Text Terms which they can Freely Understand and Driver with Currency Investment for Novel Powers....... NEUKlearer HyperRadioProActivity.

"1. Do not claim trips to Pluto, unless on Goverment Business." .. .would Allow Claim Trips from Space Bases on Government Business.

A Special Program taking ITs REST and Delivered in an Email with an Offer to the First and Deputy First Ministries* in Stormont....... Recent Renegades into Renaissance and Virgin Students of Virtual Power Administration. ........ for Transparent Universal Governance via Beta Media Instruction and Direction/Project Production.

It cannot be denied in a Proof Positive Environment.

* Who are Leisurely in Reply Acknowledgement/Virtual Semantic Engagement .